14 DAY TRIAL // Back at CeBIT 2014 we told you German manufacturer Schenker had put on display a tablet with a keyboard dock running Windows 8.1.
Now the company has released the tablet on the UK market with a price tag of £299 / $499 / €361, says AegIndia. The Element tablet gives off Microsoft Surface 2 vibes, but the good news is that it’s £60 / $100 / €72 cheaper, so if you’re looking to save a few bucks, this might be a good place to look.
The Elements is the company’s first Windows 8.1 tablet to hit the market, so it will be interesting to see if they have gotten it right the first time around.
The Element comes with a 10.1-inch IPS display that doesn't push the boundaries in terms of resolution, offering the average 1280 x 800 pixel resolution. On the other hand, Schenker says the viewing angles are quite high.
Keeping everything alive under the hood is a 64-bit 1.8GHz Intel Bay Trail Z3740 quad-core processor combined with 2GB of RAM fitted with either 32GB or 64GB of internal storage.
Other highlights of the tablet, include the mini HDMI out, micro USB and micro SD (expandable to 196GB), full-sized keyboard with integrated touchpad, two cameras (2MP front facing camera and 5MP rear facing camera), up to 8 hours of battery life and support for Wi-Fi 4.0 and optional 3G.
“For Schenker to introduce a tablet into its range, we knew it had to be something special. The Element is not only a fantastic 10.1-inch tablet in design and specifications, it also comes with an extremely attractive price.”
Anyway, the tablet has a “black tough-glass” capacitive touchscreen, rubberside rear coating and ships with an optional smart cover and keyboard dock.
The magnetic keyboard cover is quite reminiscent of the Type-Cover of the Surface tablet. The accessory provides a keyboard with real button as a touchpad, allowing users to use the tablet in laptop mode.
Previously, we couldn't tell you whether the keyboard companion is included in the price or not, but since Schenker has mentioned the accessory is optional, we have our question answered. Still, we don’t know if the keyboard bundles an extra battery pack, like the Nokia Power Keyboard. That could certainly justify paying extra.
Anyway, the Element tablet will start shipping out to customers in May.